Ananas plant named ‘Duranas’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ananas comosus  cultivar named ‘Duranas’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact, bushy plant shape, small fruit and suitability as an indoor pot plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ananas comosus.

Variety denomination: ‘Duranas’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of an unnamed proprietaryseedling of Ananas comosus with a different unnamed proprietary seedlingof Ananas comosus. The new variety was discovered by the inventor,Chester Skotak Jr., a citizen of Costa Rica, in Ajauela, Costa Ricaduring June of 2005, in a group of seedlings resulting from thecrossing.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Duranas’ was first performedin Costa Rica by vegetative cuttings, in January 2006. Propagation wassubsequently performed by tissue culture in November 2006. ‘Duranas’ hassince produced several generations by tissue culture and has shown thatthe unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Duranas’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duranas’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duranas’ as a new and distinct Ananas comosuscultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, bushy plant shape.    -   2. Small fruit.    -   3. Suitability as an indoor pot plant.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Duranas’ are similar to both parentvarieties in some horticultural characteristics. However, ‘Duranas’differs from both the seed and pollen parents in having a smaller fruitand shorter leaves.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Duranas’ is best compared to the unpatented commercial variety Ananascomosus ‘Champaca.’ Plants of ‘Champaca’ are similar to plants of‘Duranas’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘Duranas’ hasa more compact and bushy plant shape. ‘Duranas’ also has a lighter leafcolor, shorter leaf and smaller fruit. Additionally the fruit of‘Duranas’ is lighter in color than that of ‘Champaca.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Duranas’ grown in a greenhouse. This plant isapproximately 9 months old, shown in an 12 cm pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Duranas’ plants grown in a climate controlledgreenhouse in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Temperatures ranged from 20° C. to24° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments orchemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ananas comosus ‘Duranas.’

PROPAGATION

-   First propagation method: Cuttings-   Type of propagation typically used: Tissue Culture-   Time to initiate roots: About 90 days at approximately 24° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting/liner: About 90 days at    approximately 24° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Basal rosette with inflorescence growing from the    centre-   Height: Average: 27.3 cm-   Plant spread: Average: 43.4 cm-   Normal pot size: 12 cm-   Growth rate: Low to moderate-   Branching characteristics: Basal rosette-   Quantity of leaves: Average 28 per rosette

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Placed in a basal rosette.        -   Average length.—Approximately 27.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.4 cm (measured at            mid-section).        -   Shape of blade.—Linear.        -   Aspect.—Curved downward, slightly twisted.        -   Apex.—Long acuminate.        -   Base.—Sheath length: Average 2.1 cm. Sheath width: Average            2.4 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150D, covered            with a silvery-transparent layer, not measurable with            R.H.S.-Colour Chart.        -   Margin.—Entire, sheath very finely and sharp serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, dull.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 143A,            base lighter, both Yellow-Green 144B and 144C. Young foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 137A, base lighter both            Yellow-Green 144B and 144C. Under side covered with a waxy            layer; near RHS Greyed-Green 192D and lighter. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.        -   Venation.—Type: parallel. Venation coloration:            Indistinguishable from leaf surface.-   Petiole: No petioles present

INFLORESCENCE

-   General description:    -   -   Inflorescence height, excluding scape.—Approximately 12.5            cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—Approximately 14.4 cm.-   Scape:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 14.9 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Aspect.—Approximately 90° angle to rosette (0°=horizontal).        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A, sparsely covered with a            silvery-transparent layer not measurable with R.H.S. Colour            Chart.-   Bracts:    -   -   Scape/lowermost bracts.—Shape: linear. Length: Approximately            6.2 cm, excluding sheath. Width: Approximately 0.6 cm.            Quantity: Average 5. Tip: narrow acuminate. Base: decurrent.            Sheath length: Approximately 0.5 cm. Sheath width:            Approximately 0.9 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS Yellow-Green            151A. Margin: Color Upperside: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A,            heavily tinged Greyed-Orange 174C and 174D near the base.            Color Underside: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B, tinged            Greyed-Orange N170D near the base.        -   Terminal bracts.—Shape: linear-lanceolate. Length:            Approximately 5.9 cm, excluding sheath. Width: Approximately            1.4 cm. Quantity: Average 75. Tip: acuminate. Base:            decurrent. Sheath length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Sheath            width: Approximately 2.2 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145C and 145D, covered with a            silvery-transparent layer not measurable with R.H.S. Colour            Chart. Margin: Coloration Terminal Bracts: Upperside: Near            RHS Green 137A sparsely covered with a silvery-transparent            layer not measurable with R.H.S. Colour Chart. Underside:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A, covered with a            silvery-transparent layer not measurable with R.H.S. Colour            Chart.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruit/production: Typical Ananas fruits, relatively small, oblong    and oblong in shape are produced. Average fruit length: about 4.6    cm, average fruit width: about 4.3 cm. Fruit color is a range    between RHS Green 143A to the Yellow-Green 144B.-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Observed to tolerate    temperatures to 40° C. without any negative effects. Temperature    tolerance above this range has not been observed. Tolerance of cold    temperatures has not been observed.-   Fruit/seed production:    -   -   Fruitlets per fruit.—Average: 31.-   Fruit color (outside):    -   -   Immature fruit color.—Both RHS Green 143A and Yellow-Green            143A.        -   Ripe fruit color.—Background of both RHS Green 143A and            Yellow-Green 143A tinged with Greyed-Orange 176A and 176B.        -   Fruit flesh color.—Near RHS Green-White 157C and            Yellow-Green 150D near the center, changing to Yellow-Green            145C, 145B and 145A towards the outside.        -   Flesh aroma.—Non-aromatic.        -   Fruit core average size and color.—Average length of core:            3.5 cm, average diameter of core at the base: 5 mm, average            diameter of core at the top: 1.1 cm, core colored near RHS            Yellow-Green 144D.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ananas comosus plant named ‘Duranas’ as herein illustrated and described. 